Avelo Airlines' Last Flight Departs from Redding

Monday, August 26, 2024 marled the final departure of Avelo Airlines from Redding Regional Airport (RDD), as the airline’s last flight to Burbank took off with 120 passengers on board. Many travelers expressed hope that this flight, which saw consistently high passenger loads, would not be the last of its kind, reflecting a strong demand for the service in the region.

Shasta County District 5 Supervisor Chris Kelstrom and Redding City Council Member Mark Mezzano were present at the airport today to engage with passengers, Avelo staff, and Trego-Dugan representatives. Their discussions focused on the impact of losing Avelo's services and the ongoing efforts to explore ways to bring the airline back to Redding.

"We understand the significance of this flight for our community," said Supervisor Kelstrom. "Our priority now is to work with the City of Redding to either bring Avelo back or secure another airline to serve our residents and visitors. The demand is clear, and we are committed to exploring every option."

Shasta County and the City of Redding are actively exploring opportunities to bring Avelo back or to attract another airline to fill the void left by their departure. In a letter to Avelo CEO Andrew Levy, Shasta County offered to contribute up to $100,000 over three years to offset the costs of managing ground services at RDD. To date, no response has been received.

Avelo Airlines made the decision to discontinue its services at RDD following the exit of its ground handling partner, Trego-Dugan Aviation. The ground handling company, responsible for essential services such as ticketing, luggage handling, and aircraft marshalling, cited broader business considerations as the reason for its withdrawal from the state of California.